Syracuse survives for win over Providence

Providence, R.I. – The No. 1 ranked Syracuse Orange survived severe foul trouble and a hot-shooting Providence club to claim an 87-73 victory over the Friars here at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Wednesday night.

The Orange saw a 14-point second half lead dwindle to just six points with more than five minutes left in the game.

Syracuse guard Dion Waiters made two big plays to stem the Friars’ rally. Waiters drove to the basket for a tough shot and a 72-64 lead. On Syracuse’s next possession, Waiters slipped to the corner, took a pass from Scoop Jardine and drained the open 3-pointer for a 75-64 advantage.

Syracuse improved to 16-0 (3-0 in the Big East). Providence fell to 11-5 for the season and 0-3 in the conference.

The Orange’s 16 straight wins to start the season is the third-longest season-opening streak in Jim Boeheim’s 36-year coaching tenure. The 1999-2000 team set the school record with 19 wins to start the season. Last season, Syracuse won its first 18 games.

Brandon Triche led Syracuse with 16 points. C.J. Fair dropped in 14 for the Orange. Kris Joseph and Waiters both scored 13.

Syracuse center Fab Melo hit double-figures for the third straight game with 11 points. Scoop Jardine registered a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.

Providence made 48.9 percent of its field goal attempts, the second-highest percentage allowed by Syracuse this season. The Friars also made six of their 13 3-point shots.

Syracuse endured foul trouble to its big men. Syracuse’s frontcourt was already down a man as sophomore center Baye Keita sat out the game due to a hip injury.

Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas fouled out of the game at the 9:04 mark. At the same time, Melo had four fouls and Fair had three.

With nine minutes left in the game, Providence had been whistled for one team foul.

With Christmas out and Melo on the bench, Boeheim went with a no-center lineup, using forwards Fair, Joseph and James Southerland across the back line of the zone. Fair, a 6-8 forward, manned the middle of the zone.